Vaxiviere on top as Lotus dominate final Jerez test day

Frenchman Matthieu Vaxiviere topped the second and final day of the post-Jerez test as Lotus finished first and second in Spain.

Vaxiviere led Canadian Nicholas Latifi, who switched from Strakka Racing to join Lotus for day two, by almost four tenths of a second.

Day one pace setter Pietro Fantin completed the top three for International Draco Racing ahead of Jazeman Jaafar, who ran day two for Fortec Motorsports having sat out the opening day on Tuesday.

Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Series champion Nyck de Vries showed he was already up to speed with the Formula Renault 3.5 Series car by setting the fifth fastest time for DAMS, just ahead of Jordan King of Arden Motorsport, who admits he is still analysing whether to compete in this series or in the GP2 Series in 2015.

Beitske Visser continued her strong Jerez form by posting the seventh best time for AV Formula, while Luca Ghiotto was eighth for Fortec Motorsports. Eurocup runner-up Dennis Olsen was ninth for Strakka Racing ahead of Slovakian Richard Gonda for Tech 1 Racing.

Eighteen cars took to the track on Wednesday, with Dean Stoneman switching from Arden Motorsport to Pons Racing in place of Robert Visoiu, while Egor Orudzhev drove Stoneman’s Arden car having moved from Fortec Motorsports.

Jake Hughes had his first run in a Formula Renault 3.5 Series car when he took to the track for Strakka Racing in place of Latifi, who had replaced Alex Fontana at Lotus.

Comtec Racing skipped day two after running with Steijn Schothorst on day one, while Zeta Corse, who took Roberto Merhi to three race wins and third place in the championship in 2014, did not run at all for the second day running.

With the experience he has gained in 2014 and the strong form he showed in the closing races this season, Vaxiviere must be installed amongst the favourites for the 2015 championship should the Frenchman return. He has done his chances of returning no harm at all over these past two days testing in Spain.